Greenhouse table



Nov. 24, 1931. J. E. GLOEKLER 1,833,676

GREENHOUSE TABLE Filed Dec. 18, 1930 'A TTORNEY 16 and deterioration.

' Qaccompanying advantages of Patented Nov. 24, 1931 PATENT OFFICE J EDWARD GLOEKLER, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA GREENHOUSE TABLE Application filed December 18, 1930. Serial No. 503,244.

My invention consists of an improvement in tables or tressels for propagation of plant life in greenhouses or the like. The invention comprisesa supporting structure provided with a removable flooring and oppositely located sides, upon and between which is deposited a layer of earth for the growing of plants, with the incidents of watering, etc., as is commonly practiced in 10 the art of horticulture.

- Ordinarily, such tables are customarily built of wood,'which, due to the action of i moisture,;high temperature, and other conditions of use are subject to rapid decay Such tables have also been manufactured of concrete, with the objectionable items of expense, bulk, and perm'anency in situ. i

'II1 my invention I provide a light, portable construction adapted to be used in a series of connectedbench units, in continuous erection and operation, as a trough, and so arranged that the supporting bottom may be'quickly changed orrenewed' from time to time as desired." Further additional advantages-are in the manner of construction whereby to provide for rapid elimination 'and drainage of surplus water, thereby "avoiding decay orcorrosion, and with the lightness, cheapness, portability, and strength, as here- "inafter described.-

Referring to the drawings showing one preferred" form of construction: Fig. l is a perspective view. showing one of. the supporting unit sections erected,

g broken away at one end and with some of the floor planking in position;

- Fig. 2's an endview illustrating the cross sectional construction of such'unit;

Fig. "3 'isan enlargedsectional detail View I on the line IIIIII of Fig. 1; F ig. 4 is a similar view on the line IVIV i of 1; 1 7 r Fig.5 is an enlarged detail view of one of the corners of thesupporting'tressel frame,

showing the manner of construction; I Fig. 6 is-a sectional detail view on the line VIVIJofFig. 1.; V

While the improved'table of this appliation may be used individually, it is preferably employed as a series of bench units,-such series bein installed in endwise relation to any desire extent, along at one or both sides of the usual passageway in a greenhouse. Such passageway is necessarily comparatively narrow, and it is desirable that as much lateral space as possible may be left below the projecting upper edge of the table or unit For such purpose the side walls are so mounted as to project materially laterally beyond the lower main supporting tressels. V 1

In the drawings, one entire unitary table or section is generally referred to by the letter A. It is'composed of a pair of oppositely located tressels consisting of an upper cross bar member 2 and downwardly extending supporting leg members 3.

These members are preferably of angle shape, formed of a continuous integral bar, with the inner flange cut out; at the corner portions'as at l. The" bar is bent at right angles at the corners, with the chamfered edges of'the inner flange broughttogether and welded as at 5, Fig. 5. The opposite or horizontal flange of the angle is continuously rounded at the corner, so that it thus forms [a strong, continuous, smooth, rounded construction as indicated at 6. V n

For the purpose of providing rigid outso wardly extending supports for the side bars or Walls? of the table, I utilize brackets 8,

consisting of flat bars of metal welded to the upper face of the corner portions of the cross member 2, as at 9. Such bars extend out- "wardly more or less so as to project materially beyond the leg members 8, and are bent up wardly as at 10, providing the strap extension 11. Inwardly of such extensions 11 are located the side walls 7, usually of wood planking. These are fixedly secured to extensions 11 by screws 12, so that when thus attached at opposite ends to the endmost brackets of the pair of pedestals, the side walls 7' are not only fixedly held in position, but also act as stiffening braces for the entire construction, at opposite sides.

By connecting the walls 7 to the strap 11 by the supporting and connecting screws 12 the lower edge of-walls 7 maybe spaced upwardly slightly above the extended arm 8, leaving a clearance opening 13 as in Fig. 6. The purpose of such mounting is, in addition to the rigidity of the construction, to leave an air space 13 between the wood and the metal, so as to avoid the collection and de structlve action of molsture on either the woodor metaloft'he frame. 7

For the purpose of supporting the loosely mounted floor boards 1 L, comprising the earth supportin'g'bettomof-tlie table, I utilize a series of metal angle members 15, laid along from one member 2 to the other, as'inFig; 1, and with suitable spacing between. them. The angle members 15 are laid with their divergin'g flangesrrestingupon the flatup per faceof members 12, and thus provi ding. by the middle projecting edge 16,- a knife like supporting 'and' line contact bearing edge for the under side of the planking 14.

Such constructionis ofespecialadvantage in reducing toa minimum the contact bet-w-eenthe under. side of. the planking and the supporting-Tangle members 15, so that. any water seepageor accumulated moisture will readily run ofl onone or both of the inclined flange sides andbe depositedon the floor of the greenhouse,

Anglemembers-Mi are perforated at their ends and secured through similar perforations-in the.horizontalflangesof cross bar 2 by means of hook-bolts17, as in Fig-3. Such hook bolts are tightly connected by nuts 18, andby their construction ofler comparatively slightopportunityfor accumulation or collection of any; destructive moisture.

I When thus constructed and assembledin unitary form, theplanking l hmay be continuously laid along, across the." supporting edges-of the longitudinal angle members 1 5. Theplanks Hear-e preferably slightly less. in

length than the distance between the sides 11 so as to fit easily therehetween, withample clearance for escape ofmoisture at. each end. Earth 1-9 may be then, deposited. upon such flooring,- and thetable isthen capable. of use 1 When a series ofsuch unitary sections/are I arranged longitudinally in positionin cont'irtuou-sconnected arrangement, they are extrem ely rigid. and assist inbracingieach. other in the. customary manner in greenhouse propagation of plant life.

v sothat they will easily support any practicable. weight and resist various strains'of service. g

.Thus, askidway may be laid against the endm'ost crossbar 2. of a series providing. for the distributionofv earth by ,wheelbarrows (upon. such; skids and along the flooring-14',

either for filling or removalof earth, etc;

* In the eventofany breakage or ultimate failure of any members of the-planking 14,

theymay be. readily substituted-by new pieces -without the necessityiof any fiXt-uresor attachments,- as bynailing, bolting, etc.,- and having be readily understood and appreciated by all those familiar with the use of plant supporting'tables in greenhousepractice or the'like.

It. wilL he understood that the unit sections may be made in various sizes, dimensions, or otherwise I changed. in detail construction, or the longitudinal.- angle membersmay besuitably spliced and. connected, within the. scope of the followingv claims.v I

lVhatI claim is: p p 1. A greenhouse table composed of. agpair of inverted. U-shaped angle iron tressels outwardly 7 extending brackets weldedtothe opposite corners, side wall planks secured tothe-innersid'esof said;-

brackets, a plurality of inverted angleshape bottom-supp orting; bars: resting on the tressels by their flanges, bolts engaging: the flanges by which they are secured-to the middle transverse members of. the tressels,;

andbottom planking members. laid crosswise thereon between. the side wall planks.

2. A greenhouse table comprising incombinatio-n. a pair of inverted U-sha ped. supportingtressels made-of angle barshaving;

one; flange chamfered. and welded to form angular opposite corners with thev other flange continuously integral, sidev supporting bracketsformed; ofihorizontal bars each welded tothe upper corner'portion. of. said. integral flange and extending outwardly and upwardly therefrom, sidewall planks securedtothe inner sides of saidnpward. extensions,.. a plurality of inverted angle shaped bottomsupporting bars secured. to

the middle. transverse membersof.the tressels, and bottom planks laid crosswise thereon between; the sidewall planks. V

3; A greenhouse table comprisingin. combination a pair of inverted U-shaped' sup-' porting tressels made of angle bars having one flange chamfered and welded to form L.-shaped angular opposite corners with the other flange continuously integral, side supporting brackets formed of horizontal bars each';

welded to the upper corner. portion of said integral flange and extendingoutwardly and upwardly therefrom, side wall planks secured to the. inner sides of said upward eX- tensions,a plurality of invertedangle shapedl bottom-supporting bars resting by their flanges on the tressels'and secured theretoa-nd providing-upper supporting angular edges, and bottom planks laid crosswise: thereon betweenthe side wall-planks;

4:- A greenhouse table as in claim 2 characterized by the spacing of the side wall planks slightly above the horizontal bracket bars and being secured to the upward extensions thereof by screws.

5. A greenhouse table as in claim 2 characterized by means connecting the angle bars to the integral flange portion of the tressel consisting of hook bolts extending through the flanges of said bars and the tressel and having lower securing nuts.

6. A continuous greenhouse table composed of a series of longitudinally spaced transverse inverted U-shaped angle iron tressels each having outwardly extending L- shaped brackets welded to the corners of the tressels, side wall planks secured to the inner sides of said brackets, a plurality of inverted angle shape bottom-supporting bars laid continuously along upon their flanges and having hook bolts therethrough secured upon the middle transverse members of the tressels, and bottom planking members laid crosswise thereon between the side wall planks.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

JOHN EDWARD GLOEKLER. 

